Segmented pierceable target



May 19, 1970 H. w. ALLEN SEGMENTED PIERCEABLE TARGET Filed April 1o.1967 IVVE'NTOR HARRY W. ALLEN A TTOR/VE Y United States Patent 3,512,778SEGMENTED PIERCEABLE TARGET Harry W. Allen, 6220 Apache St., Dayton,Ohio 45424 Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,738 Int. Cl. F41j 3/00 U.S.Cl. 273-102 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto improvements in target structures for aerodynamically shapedprojectiles. It has particular advantage in application to archerytargets and for purposes of illustration will be so described, thoughnot so limited.

Archery targets of the pn'or art have assumed various shapes and havebeen contrived of various materials. Currently most targets are made ofdry prairie hay which is spiraled into a cylindrical form, sewedtogether and encased in burlap. The target per se is then directly`applied or attached to the burlap. These targets are expensive.Moreover, they are heavy, extremely `so with increasing size. This lastmakes them very awkward to handle. More objectionable, however, in arelatively short period of time they are badly torn by impacting arrowsand are very difficult to repair in any satisfactory manner. Further,they are vulnerable to moisture. The described targets, nevertheless,have been `adopted for present use with the objective of alleviatingsimilar more serious problems and other problems which have appeared inthe use of prior art targets. Other types of marials such as wood, corkor paper have been previously employed for targets but their form hasbeen such that they either provide an unsatisfactory surface forretention of arrows which impact thereon or they have disintegrated toorapidly in use. The latter fact makes them extremely costly for theservice rendered.

The pre-sent invention affords a solution to the above mentionedproblems. It provides a low cost target structure which neverthelessaffords an ideal impact surface designed to minimize the impact damage.Embodiments feature a segmented structure the elements of which are notonly readily replaceable but interchangeable. In use, if a particularsegment or segments become particularly damaged, they may be quickly andeasily and very inexpensively replaced. In the alternative, they Imay berepositioned to render the most used portions of the impact surfacewhole. Thereby one can -get the optimal useful life from the originallow cost target structure. The -invention target is, moreover, strong,light in weight and basically provides an ideal honeycombed type impactsurface. The target body is such it will stably lodge impacting arrowsor like projectiles yet permit their ready withdrawal with a minimumdamage thereto.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a target structure whichis economical to fabricate, efcient and satisfactory in use `andadaptable to a wide variety of applications.

Another object of the inventlon 1s to prov1de a target structure whichmay be easily and quickly repaired.

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A further object of the invention is to provide a strong, light weighttarget structure which has an extended useful life.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel segmentedtarget structure the segments of which may -be readily replaced and/orinterchanged.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique targetstructure the elements of which are individually replaceable thin stripsof paper-like substance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a target `structurepossessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and the means and mode of use heredescribed.

With the above and other incidental objects in view as will more fullyappear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected byLetters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts -andcombinations thereof, and the mode of operation as hereinafter describedor illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is shown one but obviouslynot necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a target in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an outer -side view of a side component of the target frame;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame component of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG 5 illustrates the top and bottom component of the target frame;

FIG. 6 illustrates the dowel pin used in locking the frame; and

FIG. 7 illustrates, in perspective View, the replaceable andinterchangeable strip inserts, the edges of which -make up the primarytarget surface.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

The preferred embodiment of the invention here illustrated is made upsubstantially entirely of narrow generally rectangular elongated stripsof corrugated paper or corrugated board. It includes a rectangular frame10 which releasably contines a vertically stacked series of superposed,generally rectangular, strip inserts 11. So stacked, the strip edgeportions 12 each present a corrugated cross section and they mutuallyform a honeycombed imp act surface 13.

The frame 10 includes side portions 14 and 15, a top portion 16 and abottom portion 17.

The side portions 14 and 15 have an identical composition. Each has alaminate form, being comprised of successively alternated short strips18 and long strips 19l of the corrugated paper or paper board. Thestrips are narrow and rectangularly formed. In building the sideportions, two strips 18 are placed outermost and longitudinally centeredin reference to immediate abutted long strips 19. Further strips arepositioned intermediately of the so-abutted strips 19 and are similarlyalternated and centered in reference to adjacent strips. The so-relatedstrips 18 and 19 are then glued in face abutting relation to achieve anintegral laminate form. As seen in FIGS. 2. and 3 of the drawings, theends of the longer strips 19 form spaced lingers which equally projectbeyond the respective ends of the short strips 18. The sides 14 and 15are each distinguished by a long strip 19 at its center and strips ofequal width except for the strips 18 abutting the respective faces ofthe central strip 19. The strips 18 have equal width, are relativelywider than the other strips, and are so disposed that their additionalwidth is projected inwardly of the inner periphery of the frame 10. Theinwardly projected portions of strips 18 on the sides 14 and 15 formanchor guides 20l at either side of the frame.

The top and bottom frame portions 16 and 17 are also composed ofalternated short and long strips 18 and 19 of the corrugated paper orpaper board. In this case also, the strips are glued together in faceabutting relation to achieve a laminate structure the same as the sideportions 14 and 15. However, in the case of the portions 16 and 17 allthe strips have the same width and two long strips 19 are disposedoutermost with the intermediate strips being alternated as previouslydescribed.

Due to the reverse composition of the respective sides 14 and 15 and thetop and bottom portions 16 and 17, their projected fingers, formed bystrips 19, interlit, in an obvious manner, at right angles to eachother. This last produces a rectangular laminate sandwich of the lingersat each corner of the frame 10. The interlit fingers have matchingapertures 21 which align to provide a through opening at each corner ofthe frame. Each through opening receives a friction iit dowel pin 22.

Each pin 22 has each of its ends provided with a short diametral slot 23and countersunk at 24, as seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. As a pin isset through the interfit fin-gers in each corner of the frame, a screw25 is threadedly engaged in the countersunk portion 24 at either endthereof to spread the bifurcation provided by the slot 23 and therebyproduce a binding together of the related fingers.

The strip inserts 11 are individual filler sections for the frame 10. Asseen in FIG. 7, each insert, which is a corrugated paper or paper boardsandwich, has a rectangular notch 26 in either end. The notches 26 areof a size to accommodate the anchor guides 20 and thus enable a slidableinterlit therewith of the strip inserts.

To assemble the invention target is a simple procedure. The sideportions 14 and 15 are first connected to the bottom portion 17 of theframe 10 as described. This disposes anchor guides 20 in inwardlyprojected relation to either side of the frame which is then open at itstop. The strip inserts are then disposed above the frame to align theirnotches 26 with the guides 20 and then quickly dropped in the frame. Theguides facilitate a quick, gravity inuenced, precise positioning of theinserts as they drop inwardly of the frame. Once the frame is filled,its top portion 16 is applied to have the projected lingers to eitherend thereof interiit with the mating lingers projected upwardly of sideportions 14 and 15. This establishes the apertures 21 in the interitfingers in a quick alignment. On applying a dowel pin 22 at eacli of thetop corners of the frame, in an obvious manner, to lock the fingerstogether and complete the frame and applying the screws 25, asdescribed, the target is complete. It then presents the corrugated crosssection of the inserts 11 to form a honeycomb impact surface 13` to boththe front and rear of the target. A bullseye may be then imposed oneither surface, in any conventional manner.

It should be seen from the preceding how one can achieve a simple andinexpensive target in accordance with the invention. In the use of thestacked thin strip inserts, it has been found that the verticalcompression under which they are placed seems to iniiuence the target tobe more durable. An arrowhead, on impacting with the target surface 13,lodges securely Without undue damage and is capable of being readilywithdrawn with the target structure tending to substantially achieve itsoriginal form. In the instances where repeated use eventually creates acritical distortion of the target surface, one may then remove the topframe portion 16, in an obvious manner, and relocate the damaged stripsto areas less likely to be critical in reference to impact. In thealternative, it may be seen that the strips are so inexpensive they maybe disposed of and replaced by other strips in a very economical andquick fashion. The strips of course are nominal in cost. A furtherpossibility in use of the simple target of the invention is that thedamaged strips may be reversed from front to rear and add to its usefullife.

Accordingly, the invention produces a target which is not onlyeconomical, but durable and one which is extremely flexible, easilydismounted and readily assembled. Economy is self-evident in thepreferred materials employed in accordance with the illustratedembodiment. It should be recognized, moreover, that the materialsdescribed need not be limiting and the parts may be similarly achievedand fabricated of other materials, such as plastic without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages. `l

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be undersood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect,and the invention is `therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A target device comprising a segmented structure, the targetcomponents of which are individually replaceable vertically stacked,generally rectangular, strips of corrugated paper` cardboard, meansproviding a releasable interconnection of said components to form anintegrated target surface, the edge portions of said Strips beingpositioned `to form said target surface and to give it a honeycombconfiguration, in such configuration the strips individuallyaccommodating the lodging of an arrow without material damage to thetarget, said strips having a slip tit assembled relation to facilitatetheir removal and replacement, the ends of said strips being mutuallygrooved to provide therein channels and there being frame elementsarranged to contain said ends of said strips, said frame elements havingat their most adjacent sides projections which extend longitudinallythereof and provide slide guides formed to interfit in the grooved endsof said strips whereby said Strips may be slidably inserted between andcontained by said frame elemnts and similarly removed.

2. A target device is in claim 1 characterized by said frame elementsalso being formed of corrugated paper cardboard in laminate form.

3. A target device as in claim 1 characterized 'by said frame elementsbeing comprised of strips of said paper in laminate form, edge portionsof spaced strips in each of said frame elements being disposed to formlaterally spaced projections which provide said slide guides.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 695,677 3/1902.` Faris. 1,837,62712/1931 Mead et al. 3,048,401 8/ 1962 Dishon.

3,329,431 7/ 1967 Roesner.

FOREIGN PATENTS 123,082 12/ 1946 Australia.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner M. R. PAGE, Assistant Examiner

